Category Archives: VGN Track Plans

Track plans for the Virginian Railway

NYC VGN Deepwater, WV track plan N

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment
Track plan NYC VGN Deepwater, WV N scale
  • Size: 12.5′ x 18′
  • Scale: N
  • Minimum Mainline Radius: 16″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

NYC Logo PlainDeepwater, WV is a tiny town in the middle of West Virginia, but it was home to three major railroads: the C&O, NYC and Virginian. The C&O’s mainline through the coal fields between Charleston, WV and Hinton ran along the south bank of the Kanawha River through Deepwater, and the New York Central hugged the north bank of the Kanawha on its way from Charleston to Gauley Bridge, WV and the Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier (NF&G) coal field it … Read more →

VGN Mullens to Matoaka, WV track plan HO

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment
Track plan VGN Mullens to Matoaka, WV HO scale
  • Size: 34′ x 37′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 36″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

VGN Logo (plain)Elmore, WV was the heart of the Virginian Railway’s coal operations. Besides being the major coal marshaling yard and and the base for mine runs and helpers, Elmore (along with nearby Mullens) was home to large facilities for big steam working the coal branches and mainline west and the electrics working the helper grade east and mainline to the Virginia coast. It was precisely for these attributes that a friend wanted to model this area.

The Layout

This large layout was designed for a friend who had … Read more →

VGN White Oak Branch, WV track plan HO

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment
Track Plan VGN White Oak Branch, WV HO scale
  • Size: 11′ x 18′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 27″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

VGN Logo (plain)The White Oak Branch originally started as the White Oak Railway which served the mines at Lochgelly and Summerlee.  The White Oak interchanged with the C&O at Carlisle, WV, and the Virginian at Oak Hill Jct., WV.  The White Oak was sold to both the Virginian and C&O in 1917.  Even though it was sold to both railroads, in reality the C&O would interchange cars at Carlisle, and the Virginian (later the N&W) would move them to the mines.

The Layout

This bedroom-sized layout represents the Virginian’s … Read more →

VGN Stone Coal Branch, WV track plan HO

By | | , , ,
Leave a comment
Track plan VGN Stone Coal Branch, WV HO scale
  • Size: 12′ x 14′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 27″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

VGN Logo (plain)The Virginian’s Stone Coal Branch near Mullens, WV served many loaders for both the Virginian and the C&O. This branch was worked by mine runs out of the Virginian’s large yard at Elmore. Typical power during both the VGN and early N&W eras was one or two Fairbanks-Morse Trainmasters. Stone Coal Junction was an active interchange point with the with the Chesapeake and Ohio. Although the C&O had trackage rights over the Stone Coal Branch, they opted to interchange hoppers bound for Stone Coal Branch loaders with the Virginian. The … Read more →

VGN Pemberton, WV track plan HO

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment
Track plan VGN Pemberton, WV HO scale
  • Size: 19′ x 33′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 26″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

VGN Logo (plain)Pemberton, WV was an important junction for both the Virginian (later the N&W) and the C&O. Pemberton lay in the middle of the Winding Gulf trackage for both railroads and was one of two interchange points in the area where both railroads crammed into the valleys (the other was Stone COal Jct. further south). Coal loaders surrounded both railroad’s lines in all directions.

The Layout

C&O Logo PlainThis track … Read more →

VGN Elmore and Winding Gulf, WV track plan HO

By | | , , , ,
Leave a comment
Track plan VGN Elmore and Winding Gulf, WV HO scale - Lower
  • Size: 19′ x 33′
  • Scale: HO
  • Minimum Radius: 30″
  • Minimum Aisle Width: 30″
  • Designed by Dan Bourque

VGN Logo (plain)Elmore was the center of Virginian Railway operations in the coal fields. Mullens, just north (railroad west) of Elmore, was home to a major engine facility and the western terminus of electrification on the Virginian. Traffic through Elmore was predominantly coal, but there was meager non-coal traffic in the form of traffic to and from the NYC and C&O at Deepwater, WV. Because of the tipples included, this trackplan best fits the timeframe between 1940 and 1970. Prior to 1962, the mainline was electrified and the Virginian … Read more →